Bran28

Does anyone know when the chat transcript will be posted? Was the chat interesting for anyone that viewed it?

pmaddock

Well some randomly selected participant is going to get 50K miles so I would say it was interesting in that regard.

For the most part it was interesting but not overly revealing. After all someone in that position has to be careful - especially with NW in Chapter 11.

A couple of good points:
1. Someone popped the 'what about elite priority boarding being by-passed so much' and he said he would be rethinking the policy there. Apparently they had established a 60% threshold as an 'experiment' but maybe the feedback is getting there.
2. Negotiations are underway with Alaska to look at enhancing the reciprocity so that NW Elites can use the Alaska MVP lines and vice-versa. This was my question as I seem to get those itens where the route ends with AS connectors in the smaller Western cities.

SteveinA2

International Upgrades are not in our future

Platinum Point promotion is as worthless to NW as to their customers

No threshold bonuses after 75,000 miles in our future

Overcharging of fees for reward travel was skillfully skirted

33% more miles needed for same flights on same airlines to Asia Pacific was also brought up but not addressed

He doesn't fly NWA WBC much as he says he eats everything in sight when on it. Clearly he does not know there is nothing good to eat

slippahs

I think the most important thing he mentioned was that there'd likely be no change to the 2006 WorldPerks benefits. We always worry that our benefits will be taken away, well that's some reassurance.

Also, the Northwest folks are looking into reciprocal upgrades with Delta, but nothing much was said about it.

kb1992

who got that 50k miles?

I proposed 10k miles for 5 people to make more guys happy and Randy said it's a good idea.

HeathrowGuy

In fairness to Russ, there wasn't much he really could say - beyond the usual stay-out-of-trouble-with-the-SEC stuff, being in Chapter 11 brings a level of uncertainty that can render any assurance or "promise" meaningless on short/no notice.

Mikel at Webflyer

For anyone interested, the transcripts of the chat have now been posted here

seoulmanjr

That link isn't working as far as I can tell.

peace,
~Ben~

thezipper

Ben...your just to quick for those guys at Webflyer... it seems to be working now...

rdg_dc

Not working for me either

BearX220

Works now. Not a heck of a lot in it though. I was interested to see Russ address the elite-dilution issue without being prompted... he said he's confident Plats will still see 90% upgrade success domestically in 2006 despite the 2XEQM promo and various comp offers. (I suspect the unsaid part is that Golds and Silvers could see a lot less though.)

Live4Miles

I found this interesting (in discussing if they monitor our forum):

In addition to being highly entertaining, we also learn where all the loop holes are in our promotions! You have helped us many times. thx

Live4Miles

Another item:


"I prefer to continue to make private offers that reward customers for extra stretch and not introduce a permanent fourth tier program feature at this time. thx"


Does anybody know what might be a "private offer"??

rwill11

At least he was honest about it.

RobOnLI

Forget the rest of you I find this comment the most interesting:

---
mr exec
How does your system determine who gets upgraded on paid tickets when there are multiple travelers with the same elite status?

Russ Hinckley
We do look at a number of factors. First we sort by tier, then revenue, then LT value factors, then time of ticketing. I think it works very well and is the strongest benefit of our program. thx.
---
No one need ask anymore how EUA works. It's all right there

-RM